Where are all the athletes?

Baseball has always been known as Americans past time. But if that was true, why do so many players of international decent dominate the game? It seems that names like; Cano, Ortiz, Darvish, and young stars Montero and Cespedes, have become much more dominant in the league than others. But here is the million-dollar question, where are all of the athletes of the United States taking their talents (and no, they’re not taking them to South Beach)?

            The answer is, the NBA and NFL. The better question is actually why, and it is actually quite simple, money. Not only is it about money, but also getting large amounts of money, and getting it quick. Lets just take a look at some of the top draft picks in 2011 and there starting contracts for the NBA and NFL.

            I would have included the MLB draft picks as well but lets just say, that’s a little more difficult to do. The top three picks in the 2011 MLB draft were: Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen, and Trevor Bauer. Cole got an $8 million dollar signing bonus and is then on a minor league contract. Keep in mind most minor-league players make around $6,000 a year (no wonder they give out such hefty signing bonuses). Hultzen’s bonus was, $6,350,000 and Bauer’s was, $3,400,000. Both Hultzen and Bauer signed major league contracts so they will make out with a little more than Cole for the time being. But the point is do any of these numbers touch either of those shown in the graph?

            No, they just don’t (and you know what, it sucks!!). Young athletes have come to the realization that their skills will be paid more handsomely in the NBA and NFL. Both of those sports are dominated by home grown athletes. It’s sad to see all of these players go to other sports, rather than “Americas past time” but I guess this is the society we live in; a society with an “all about me attitude”, and the need for constant instant gratification. Baseball is such an amazing and graceful sport but the question has to be asked, will baseball ever be the great sport it once was for America again?